James Murdoch quits GlaxoSmithKline board role

James Murdoch’s position as chairman
of BSkyB was thrust into the spotlight
again last night after the embattled
heir to Rupert Murdoch’s media empire
quit the board of GlaxoSmithKline.

The son of the billionaire media
mogul stood down from his £98,000-a-year
non-executive position at the
firm, behind brands such as Ribena and
Sensodyne, following the negative
publicity surrounding the News of the
World phone-hacking scandal.

Murdoch has been under huge
pressure after being forced to deny
misleading Parliament over his
knowledge of the crisis.

But Glaxo (down 20.5p to 1,420.5p)
said Murdoch’s decision to step down
was entirely of his own making.

Chairman Chris Gent said: ‘James has
taken this decision to focus on his
current duties as non-executive
chairman of BSkyB and following his
decision to re-locate to the United
States as chairman and chief executive,
International of News Corporation.’